FatherSpiritSon.com
Humbling Ourselves By God's Commands Part 2 of 2
In my last article, we studied the first five of the Ten Commandments. In this next part of the article we will continue onward and study the other five of these commands. The sixth commandment instructs us not to murder. (See V*1). This command is so direct and precise I think it is almost self explanatory. In Matthew 5:21-24 Jesus Himself tells us that not only those who murder will subject themselves to judgment, but also anyone who is angry with his brother will also be subject to judgment. I think in cases of self-defense and in war-type situations one may be put in a more intricate situation. I believe that in these cases God would judge us based on the circumstances of each individual case. I am fairly confident that we would not be condemned for protecting our own life or family from a real threat, if it came down to it.
The seventh command tells us not to commit adultery. (See V*1). Jesus also spoke a little further down in Matthew 5:27-30 where he reiterates that it was once said that we should not commit adultery. Then he elaborates further and informs us that he who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (See V*2). He also goes on to tell us that if our eyes or if our hands cause us to stumble into sin, that we should gouge or cut them off so that we may not sin, and our body may not be thrown into hell. This is a serious statement, and I would imagine most of us wouldn't resort to this extreme, but instead would prefer to try and restrain ourselves from the sin.
As a young man of God, there are a number of temptations that I can truly say have little to no effect on me. This seventh command however, I would be out-right lying to you if I didn't tell you that I struggled with from time to time. I think young men and women, particularly unmarried ones, may have a hard time following this commandment all the time. Sometimes I convince myself into thinking that a sin such as viewing pornography is not all that bad, since I am not harming anyone other than perhaps myself, but we need to remember that our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit. We essentially do not own ourselves, we were bought with a price, and God commands us to honor Him even with the members of our body. (See V*3). Furthermore, as if God's command was not reason enough to obey, we should be discouraged from all sin in the first place because of the simple fact that the wages of sin is death. (See V*4). I am not sure if this is a physical death, spiritual death, or even both. In either case who would want to pursue death? I certainly wouldn't.
The eighth commandment informs us not to steal. (See V*1). It is surprising how susceptible we are to stealing without even realizing it sometimes. Whether it be by surfing the net while we are supposed to be working at our employer or perhaps watching two or more movies at the movie theater instead of just watching the one we actually paid for. These may not seem too severe and certainly we could find some flawed reasoning to attempt to justify actions like these, but God's word is firm. We should try to avoid these sort of little temptations to steal because they can easily become a slippery slope or "gateway" if you will to try cutting corners in other areas.
The ninth commandment is as clear and precise as all the rest. It says not to give false testimony against your neighbor. I think this refers to a lot of different but similar situations,all of which include some sort of lie . (See V*1). For example, I think this command would certainly apply to bearing false witness in a high profile court case. Another example would be accusing your neighbor of wrong-doing when he is truly innocent. In any case God's word makes it apparent that these sorts of actions are wrong. In fact they are practically the opposite of God's primary commands. These are to love the Lord will all our heart, soul, and mind. Additionally, to love your neighbor as yourself. It also goes on to explain that all the law and the prophets are based on these two commandments, which I think are the foundation to all Ten Commandments. Jesus implies this in Matthew 22:37-40. (See V*5).
Finally, we reach the final of the Ten Commandments. It is not to covet your neighbor's wife or possessions. (See V*1). I think this has a lot to do with staying away from negative emotions such as envy and jealousy. Avoid these like the plague and do not allow them to take root in your heart, for they lead to unhappiness and discontentment. We should not desire to acquire our neighbor's wife or even his possessions. We can surely sit back and admire any particular item, but this is much different from actually coveting it.
In closing, I will say that I truly do believe God is especially merciful with our biggest weaknesses, and He not only sees our sin at face value, but also looks into the motives of our hearts in the process. He also surely takes note of our efforts in resolving these sorts of issues. After all we are all works in progress and in need of God's mercy!
May God wash away your guilt and separate you from your sins so that as far as the East is from the West so will your sins be away from you! (See V*6).
-Victor Nunez
Biblical References:
V*1- "Then God spoke all these words: 2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. 3 Do not have other gods besides Me. 4 Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the fathers' sin, to the third and fourth [generations] of those who hate Me, 6 but showing faithful love to a thousand [generations] of those who love Me and keep My commands. 7 Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will punish anyone who misuses His name. 8 Remember to dedicate the Sabbath day: 9 You are to labor six days and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. You must not do any work- you, your son or daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the foreigner who is within your gates. 11 For the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything in them in six days; then He rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and declared it holy. 12 Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. 13 Do not murder. 14 Do not commit adultery. 15 Do not steal. 16 Do not give false testimony against your neighbor. 17 Do not covet your neighbor's house. Do not covet your neighbor's wife, his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." Exodus 20:3-17 (HCSB)
V*2- "You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery. 28 But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into hell!" Matthew 5:27-30 (HCSB)
V*3- "Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is helpful Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be brought under the control of anything. 13 Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will do away with both of them. The body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 God raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? So should I take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Absolutely not! 16 Do you not know that anyone joined to a prostitute is one body with her? For it says, The two will become one flesh. 17 But anyone joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18 Flee from sexual immorality! Every sin a person can commit is outside the body, but the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body. 19 Do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body."1 Corinthians 6:12-20 (HCSB)
V*4- "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23 (HCSB)
V*5- "He said to him, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important commandment. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-40 (HCSB)
V*6- "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His faithful love toward those who fear Him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:11-12 (HCSB)